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St. Patrick's Day is this weekend and many individuals will be hitting the local bars and having a Guinness to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland.

But as with other holidays, the police will be out in full force to stop drunk drivers. In addition, the City of Seattle has also taken some unique measures to encourage impaired drivers to stay off the road.

Here's a look at some tips to avoid a St. Patrick's Day DUI:

Park Overnight. A few years ago the city introduced overnight parking meters. The parking meters allow inebriated persons to pre-pay for parking at 10:00 p.m. the previous night for parking the next morning. This way, potential drivers cannot use fear of a parking ticket as motivation for trying to make it home driving drunk.

Get Smart With Your Smartphone. There are a variety of apps that can hook up a drunk person with a ride home. Some apps can notify you of local carpools going in the direction you want to go. Other apps can signal the nearest taxi cab.

Walk or Take Public Transportation. If you can't walk to your favorite pub, surely you can walk to a bus or train stop that can take you there. If you expect to be driving on St. Patrick's Day, you should not make any plans for driving.

Have a Designated Driver. If #3 above doesn't apply and you absolutely must drive, make sure you have a designated driver. Most groups have a friend who doesn't drink. Or you can simply take turns on who is the designated driver.

Say No. If you're getting a ride home and suspect that the driver is impaired, just say no and don't get in the car. It's simply not worth it to take the chance.

Inevitably, individuals will get busted for a suspected DUI following a heavy enforcement day like St. Patrick's Day. In my 12 years serving as a DUI lawyer, I have represented dozens of people who were arrested for DUI following Saint Patrick's day celebrations

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About the Author

A former DUI prosecutor, Aaron Wolff has over 18 years of experience in representing people accused of DUI and is recognized as one of the leading defense lawyers in Washington State. His relentless and passionate advocacy has lead to superb ratings and outstanding reviews from former clients.